The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, I have the honour to inform the Senate that the Clerk of the Senate has received a certificate from the Registrar General of Canada showing that Iris G. Petten has been summoned to the Senate.

Hon. Yonah Martin (Deputy Leader of the Opposition): Honourable senators, on behalf of the opposition and the Senate Conservative caucus, I’m pleased to rise in this chamber and welcome our new colleague, who was sworn in just a few minutes ago.

Welcome to the Senate of Canada, Honourable Iris Petten. We look forward to working in a collaborative way with you in this chamber. I have no doubt that today will be busy, and yet it will also be humbling. When we welcome a new colleague, I find myself thinking back to the day when I was personally asked to serve in the upper chamber. It is a day, undoubtedly, that we all cherish, one filled with excitement and anticipation. For most of us, it is a day when we felt the weight of the responsibility which has been entrusted to us.

Senator Petten, I look forward to getting to know you. I look forward to hearing your unique perspectives in our debates and discussions, including your insights from your 35-plus years of experience in the fishing industry.

I trust that you will always keep in mind that our duty, as senators, is to protect the best interests of Canadians and, in your case, the best interests of the people of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Canadians count on us to ensure that their voices are being heard and represented in Parliament. Together, in this chamber, we must strive to ensure the best path forward for Canadians across our beautiful country. This chamber must provide hope for Canadians, and we cannot forget that we are here to serve them.

Senator Petten, please know that the Conservative caucus will be pleased to work with you, and if ever you were inclined to join the most effective and focused team in this chamber, please don’t hesitate to reach out. I note that you are already well surrounded by wonderful senators from Newfoundland and Labrador.

On behalf of the opposition, as well as the Conservative caucus, I want to warmly welcome you as you embark on the journey with us in the Senate of Canada. Welcome to our Senate family.

Hon. Jane Cordy: Honourable senators, I am delighted to rise today on behalf of the Progressive Senate Group and join with other leaders in welcoming a new colleague to this chamber.

We recently heard from Minister LeBlanc when he was in our chamber for Question Period that we would soon have more Atlantic Canadians among us, and I hope this is only the beginning for our Atlantic region.

Senator Petten, as we’ve heard, your career trajectory is nothing short of impressive. Dedicating yourself to hard work, to community, to family and to entrepreneurship has served you well. You have proven that an attitude of, “Well, why can’t I do that” is a key ingredient to such success. When you received an honorary Doctor of Laws from Memorial University in Newfoundland, you told graduates how your mentors pushed you beyond your comfort zone. You said:

When they pushed me hard and expected me to learn more, to live up to the job at hand, I grew as a person. The best lessons I learned came from reaching beyond what I knew, and avoiding staying with what I was comfortable with.

Sometimes hard to do but really great advice, Senator Petten.

With your appointment, you have once again found yourself in a new situation. I suspect I speak for all senators when I say that we are looking forward to seeing how you meet this challenge. Based upon your track record, I know that we can expect great things.

Although you are not the first Senator Petten to represent Newfoundland and Labrador in this chamber, I do believe you will be the first senator to represent Port de Grave, and I am sure that they will be well served by your continued dedication to your home community.

Senator Petten, on behalf of the Progressive Senate Group, it is my pleasure to officially welcome you to the Senate of Canada.

By the way, I just found out that our very own Senator Audette was born in Labrador. I did not know that until this afternoon, just two minutes before I got up to speak.

Senator Petten, we look forward to working with you. Welcome.

Hon. Scott Tannas: Honourable senators, on behalf of my colleagues in the Canadian Senators Group, I welcome Senator Iris Petten to the Senate. Senator Petten is a resident of Port de Grave, Newfoundland and Labrador. She is a highly successful entrepreneur and a senior executive with over 35 years of experience in the fishing industry.

This announcement of your nomination was a particular delight for us, especially for Senator Black from our group, who up to now has been the only, lonely expert in food production in the Senate. The Senate desperately needs many strong voices from the food industry and especially those who know where food comes from. We will, no doubt, benefit greatly from your expertise as we review legislation and public policy.

Senator, you probably know this, but you are the third Petten to serve in the Senate. The first Petten was named to the Senate in 1949 with Newfoundland and Labrador joining Confederation. Then, interestingly, his son served as a senator until 1998.

I’m not sure if these are your family members, but we’re interested in finding out, and I look forward to hearing more about that. For close to half of the 20th century, a Petten has sat in this place. Now, as our 21st-century Senator Petten, this place seems a little more complete with your arrival.

Senator Petten, welcome to the Senate. My colleagues and I look forward to working with you.

Hon. Raymonde Saint-Germain: Honourable senators, it is my great pleasure to extend a warm welcome to the newest member of the Senate of Canada, Senator Iris G. Petten, and as well to your loved ones who are with us, present in the galley.

Her appointment to the chamber is a testament to her distinguished career as a businesswoman in a vital industry to Newfoundland and Labrador, as well as to Canada, and her proven commitment to her province as well as to our country.

Honourable Senator Petten, as a member of the Senate of Canada, you will have the opportunity to contribute your expertise and knowledge to the important work of this upper chamber of the Canadian Parliament.

Your experience in the fishing industry, as well as your service on Memorial University’s Board of Regents will, without a doubt, prove invaluable as we tackle the pressing issues for our regions, for our fellow citizens as well as for our country.

To quote you:

Growing up, you weren’t defined by how you looked like, what education you got, but you were defined by your work ethic.

Your proven work ethic, sense of duty and dedication to representing the interests of the people of your province and all Canadians will undoubtedly be a significant asset to the Senate’s deliberations.

For nearly a decade, you have devoted your time and effort to giving back to Memorial University, the place where you studied. Your unwavering dedication stems from your strong belief in the importance of education, for the resilience of your province and the creation of opportunities for younger generations.

As the eldest of a family with three brothers and two sisters, you always made an effort to help, whether it was in your home or, later, in your career. Despite being far from home here in Ottawa, you have now joined a large family — the Senate of Canada family.

In the conclusion of your role as board chair at Memorial University, you cited Mother Teresa when she said, “I can do things you cannot, you can do things I cannot; together we can do great things.”

As I am sure this phrase still resonates with you today, I am full of hope that, together, we will indeed do great things.

On behalf of all members of the Independent Senators Group, I extend our sincerest congratulations on your appointment. We look forward to working with you in the interests of all Canadians. Welcome.

Hon. Senators: Hear, hear.

Senator Boehm: — who, as we all know, will very soon be our dear former colleague. Long before being appointed to the Senate in 2016, Senator Bovey, as a gallery director, art historian and professor of the arts and culture, was a staunch proponent of cultural diplomacy.

That advocacy, for a largely misunderstood and grossly undervalued subject, has continued through her six and a half years as a senator, including appearing at the Foreign Affairs and International Trade Committee last Thursday, May 4, during the second of three meetings the committee is holding on cultural diplomacy and Canadian studies programs.

It is my sincere hope, colleagues, that this motion will be adopted today while Senator Bovey, whose last day in this chamber is Thursday, May 11, is still a sitting senator.

This would mean she will have spoken to and, most importantly, voted on a vital step in fulfilling her legacy piece — that is, the long-overdue adoption of Cultural Diplomacy at the Front Stage of Canada’s Foreign Policy.

Honourable senators, I noted at the outset of my remarks that practitioners and supporters of cultural diplomacy and Canadian studies programs place great significance on this report, despite its lack of adoption by the Senate. Committee members have heard this message loud and clear from the witnesses whom the committee welcomed recently on cultural diplomacy. On April 27, the committee focused specifically on Canadian studies and, on May 4, arts and culture. Tomorrow, on May 10, the committee will culminate its meetings on cultural diplomacy with appearances by senior officials from Global Affairs Canada and Canadian Heritage.

The executive summary of the 2019 report states the following:

Arts and culture are foreign policy assets. However, the Canadian government’s interest in cultural diplomacy has been inconsistent over the years: initiatives have been undertaken to only then be phased out. Regardless, Canadian artists, writers and cultural organizations have themselves never stopped projecting the country’s culture and arts internationally.

Colleagues, all of this remains true four years later. Advocates have not stopped their efforts, and the government has taken no real action despite explicitly stating its support for cultural diplomacy. In the Prime Minister’s mandate letter to the Honourable Mélanie Joly upon her appointment as the Minister of Foreign Affairs in 2021, the Prime Minister directed Minister Joly to:

Work with the Minister of Canadian Heritage to launch a new cultural diplomacy strategy to leverage the work of Canadian artists and cultural industries to support Canada’s diplomatic goals.

Similarly when the Honourable Pablo Rodriguez was reappointed as the Minister of Canadian Heritage in 2021, the Prime Minister mandated him to:

Work with the Minister of Foreign Affairs to launch a new cultural diplomacy strategy and ensure Canadian artists realize benefits from this initiative.

The COVID-19 pandemic notwithstanding, support for cultural diplomacy by the government has been, as the report stated, inconsistent. Actions speak louder than words, colleagues, and the lack of concrete action on this file is — while many Canadians may not realize it — quite detrimental to our global interests.

Colleagues, I will stop there because, as I said, this is the first step in adopting the report. Once this motion is adopted, we will then have the opportunity to debate the report.

Thank you, honourable senators, and a very special thank you to our colleague Senator Bovey for her steadfast support and advocacy for Canadian culture and for arts around the world.

Thank you.

Hon. Yonah Martin (Deputy Leader of the Opposition): Honourable senators, on behalf of the opposition and the Senate’s Conservative caucus, I’m pleased to rise in this chamber and welcome our new colleague, who was sworn in just a few minutes ago.

Welcome to the Senate of Canada, Honourable Iris Petten. We look forward to working in a collaborative way with you in this chamber. I have no doubt that today will be busy, and yet it will also be humbling. When we welcome a new colleague, I find myself thinking back to the day when I was personally asked to serve in the upper chamber. It is a day, undoubtedly, that we all cherish, one filled with excitement and anticipation. For most of us, it is a day when we felt the weight of the responsibility which has been entrusted to us.

Senator Petten, I look forward to getting to know you. I look forward to hearing your unique perspectives in our debates and discussions, including your insights from your 35-plus years of experience in the fishing industry.

I trust that you will always keep in mind that our duty, as senators, is to protect the best interests of Canadians and, in your case, the best interests of the people of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Canadians count on us to ensure that their voices are being heard and represented in Parliament. Together, in this chamber, we must strive to ensure the best path forward for Canadians across our beautiful country. This chamber must provide hope for Canadians, and we cannot forget that we are here to serve them.

Senator Petten, please know that the Conservative caucus will be pleased to work with you, and if ever you were inclined to join the most effective and focused team in this chamber, please don’t hesitate to reach out. I note that you are already well surrounded by wonderful senators from Newfoundland and Labrador.

On behalf of the opposition, as well as the Conservative caucus, I want to warmly welcome you as you embark on the journey with us in the Senate of Canada. Welcome to our Senate family.

Hon. Brian Francis: Honourable senators, I rise today to draw your attention to Bear Witness Day, a national event created by the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society that calls on all people of all ages and backgrounds to support the full implementation of Jordan’s Principle, a legal requirement that aims to ensure that First Nations children can access the products, services and supports they need when they need them.

It is named in memory of Jordan River Anderson, a boy from Norway House Cree Nation born with complex medical needs. He died at the age of five after staying unnecessarily in hospital for years while the provincial and federal governments argued over who should pay for his at-home care, which was only an issue because he was First Nations.

Held annually on May 10, Bear Witness Day marks an important date in the history of Jordan’s Principle. In 2016, nine years after a complaint was filed, the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal found that chronic underfunding and the structure of child and family services on-reserve constituted systemic discrimination and ordered the federal government to fully implement Jordan’s Principle by May 10.

It took much longer for progress to be made. This April, a revised final settlement agreement was reached to compensate First Nations children and families harmed, including through the unnecessary separation of families and the denial of critical wellness and life-saving care. In addition, negotiations continue on the long-term reform final settlement agreement to prevent further discrimination.

While nothing can undo the harm caused, those developments represent a long and hard-fought measure of justice that was made possible by Jordan River Anderson and his family, along with the representatives’ plaintiffs, including Ashley Dawn Bach; Karen Osachoff; Melissa Walterson; Noah Buffalo-Jackson; Carolyn Buffalo; Richard Jackson; Xavier Moushoom; Jeremy Meawasige; Jonavon Meawasige; the late Maurina Beadle; Zacheus Trout and his two late children, Sanaye and Jacob; along with a coalition of leaders, activists and allies like Dr. Cindy Blackstock.

Colleagues, a lot more needs to change to ensure that Indigenous children grow up happy, healthy, proud and safe with their families and communities. We can and must take action.

Tomorrow, in collaboration with the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society, Senators Audette, Klyne and I will mark Bear Witness Day. We hope you will join us to remember and honour the victims and survivors of Canada’s discrimination. Thank you. Wela’lin.

[Translation]

Hon. Lucie Moncion: Honourable colleagues, I rise today to mark, for the second consecutive year, Jury Duty Appreciation Week in Canada, which is taking place from May 7 to 13 this year. It’s an opportunity to recognize and commemorate the experiences of thousands of Canadians.

I want to sincerely thank those who have served as jurors. The purpose of my statement today is to honour them and to express my great appreciation for them.

Serving as a juror requires investing a lot of time and effort during the period of the summons. This experience can also help people gain an appreciation for the justice system and a greater understanding of how it works.

Every year, thousands of Canadians are called to fulfill this civic duty, which depends on the collaboration of many parties. In performing their duties, jurors need the support of their employers, the federal, provincial and territorial governments, the justice system and their communities. The support of each of those parties is important and must be valued.

Jurors make a civic contribution, but it is also important for us to remember that jurors are people. Serving on a jury can often have a negative psychological impact on jurors both during and well after the trial, and many of them suffer in silence. We need to pay attention to these issues so that we can try to meet their needs.

We must also ensure that the administration of justice is fair and equitable, which involves, among other things, convening diverse and inclusive juries that are truly representative of the Canadian population.

[English]

Playing a vital role in the rule of law, the act of serving as a juror is an essential component of both our justice system and democracy. It is crucial for the administration of justice and the judicial system, and in some cases, it is necessary for Canadians to exercise their constitutional rights. In fact, anyone accused of a criminal offence punishable by imprisonment of five years or more has the right to a trial by jury.

I would like to express my gratitude and admiration for Mark Farrant, former juror and the President of the Canadian Juries Commission, for his efforts in raising awareness and bringing attention to the significance of supporting this civic duty among governments, courts of law and the Canadian public.

I have had the opportunity to share my personal experience as a juror on multiple occasions in this chamber. I hope to have conveyed to my colleagues and the Canadian public about the importance of this civic duty, which is shared by many others who have served as jurors. Moving forward, I am hopeful to witness a continued and robust participation in this annual meeting dedicated to promoting and raising awareness of issues affecting jurors and former jurors. Thank you.

The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, I wish to draw your attention to the presence in the gallery of Terry French and Darin King, former members of Newfoundland and Labrador’s House of Assembly. They are the guests of the Honourable Senators Wells and Ravalia.

On behalf of all honourable senators, I welcome you to the Senate of Canada.

Hon. Senators: Hear, hear!

The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, I wish to draw your attention to the presence in the gallery of Mark Farrant, former juror and President of the Canadian Juries Commission. He is the guest of the Honourable Senator Moncion.

On behalf of all honourable senators, I welcome you to the Senate of Canada.

The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, I wish to draw your attention to the presence in the gallery of Senator Petten’s partner, Justice Peter A. O’Flaherty; her son, Grayson M. Ewing and his partner, Tara Tobin; her brother, Ross T. Petten and his wife, Christina Petten; and her cousin, Renell Hart.

On behalf of all honourable senators, I welcome you to the Senate of Canada.

The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, I wish to draw your attention to the presence in the gallery of Mark Farrant, former juror and President of the Canadian Juries Commission. He is the guest of the Honourable Senator Moncion.

On behalf of all honourable senators, I welcome you to the Senate of Canada.

The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, I wish to draw your attention to the presence in the gallery of Senator Petten’s partner, Justice Peter A. O’Flaherty; her son, Grayson M. Ewing and his partner, Tara Tobin; her brother, Ross T. Petten and his wife, Christina Petten; and her cousin, Renell Hart.

On behalf of all honourable senators, I welcome you to the Senate of Canada.

Hon. Salma Ataullahjan: Honourable senators, I rise today to speak on the continued suffering of Afghans since the Taliban took over. I have spoken numerous times in the past about the erasure of women from society, the gnawing hunger taking innocent lives and the complete disregard for basic human rights.

I have also shared with you my memories of Afghanistan, a beautiful country filled with music, art and laughter. Kabul was once our favourite holiday destination.

Recently, when we thought things could not get any worse, we heard of babies dying from preventable diseases across the country. According to UNICEF, at least 167 Afghan babies die on a daily basis from illnesses that could be and should be cured with the right medication. Afghan hospitals are understaffed and overrun, with rooms filled with sick children, often two to a bed, and only two nurses to care for 60 children.

Colleagues, we are witnessing the complete collapse of Afghanistan’s health care, which has relied on foreign funds and is facing dwindling funds since the Taliban banned women from working in NGOs. Health care workers must use what they have on hand, which is very little. Nurses are often working 24-hour shifts and cannot attend to sick babies in critical condition. Some children are dying from a simple lack of oxygen, since the hospital only has power at night and doesn’t have enough supplies of raw materials to produce oxygen on-site.

Some cannot make it to the hospital in time because of the road conditions. Others cannot make the journey. In some cases, parents prefer to take their dying children home as the hospital cannot help them. They prefer to die with their loved ones.

Families are struggling to eat, and one father, watching his daughter struggle to breathe, explained that he cannot even afford to buy a single cup of tea. If it weren’t for a lack of funds, his child would not have had to suffer that way.

Honourable senators, Afghan hospitals are no longer places of care and healing. They are now a place to die. Thank you.

Hon. Peter M. Boehm: Honourable senators, I rise today to call attention to the newcomers to Canada whom we have just recognized in the gallery. Like all refugees who come to our shores, they have stories of enduring hardship, suffering and danger related to their arrival here from their native Afghanistan. We heard a very powerful statement by Senator Ataullahjan just a few minutes ago on that subject.

I want to acknowledge the support of the Anglican Diocese of Ottawa, a long-time participant in the Private Sponsorship of Refugees program run by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, or IRCC, and the key role played by Robert and Mary Fowler. Mr. Fowler and Mrs. Fowler are distinguished Canadians with great international experience and reputations in facilitating both the processing of applications through IRCC as well as the group’s international travel and settlement in Canada.

Honourable senators, Mr. Amin Sidiqi came to Canada in July 2018, and his family — here with us today — joined him here after leaving Afghanistan on the last Canadian flight out of Kabul in August 2021. Holding a Master of Arts degree from New York University, he is now studying law at the University of Ottawa, as well as working part-time with the research team of the university’s Refugee Hub and also as a court interpreter. His spouse, Nafisa, and sons Mahdi, Abbas and Hussain are settling in and learning our official languages. At school, the boys are enjoying essay writing and debating, and have taken up soccer and, of course, hockey, as one does in our country.

Mr. Yadullah Yasa came to us via Indonesia, and he is looking to continue his university studies in Canada and to work as a filmmaker — which was his passion at university when he was forced to leave Afghanistan.

Ms. Mahmudah Sahar fled her village in Afghanistan and arrived in Canada in November of last year. She attends the Adult High School here in Ottawa. I understand that it took some persuasion to get her here today because it means that she is missing some classes. Mahmudah is working part-time in a store and hopes to pursue a career in nursing.

Honourable senators, as I look around the chamber, I am reminded that several of our colleagues came to Canada from afar, and that many, like myself, are first-generation Canadians — being the children of immigrants or, in my case, refugees. As we have seen since 1867, our country has been enriched by newcomers of all kinds who contribute to and strengthen our society in all its diversity. Canadian society is also enriched by civil society and community organizations. I mentioned the Anglican Diocese of Ottawa, but there are other churches and community groups that are particularly active with respect to settling refugees from Afghanistan in this city. Of course, there are thousands of Canadians, like Robert and Mary Fowler, who have given selflessly of their time and energy in order to help newcomers come here and find their way.

May it continue to be so across our great country. Thank you.

[Translation]

The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, I wish to draw your attention to the presence in the gallery of Brigadier-General Roger Scott, Colonel (Retired) Gisele Fontaine, Lieutenant-Colonel Carolyn Blanchard and Lieutenant-Commander Kristi Velthuizen. They are the guests of the Honourable Senator Patterson (Ontario).

On behalf of all honourable senators, I welcome you to the Senate of Canada.

The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, I wish to draw your attention to the presence in the gallery of the Sidiqi Family, Mahmudah Sahar, Yadullah Yasa, and Robert and Mary Fowler. They are the guests of the Honourable Senator Boehm.

On behalf of all honourable senators, I welcome you to the Senate of Canada.